Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1887-09-02

have robbed me of the love of the man love
and have always loved. His love and es-
TEEN valued ten times more than the Cal
sdon estate, and you have robbed mo Of
both.n
She paused with dry sob, but went on in
O moment. "You offer me friendship, as If
all the friendship in the world could COM
pensate me for my love. ! do not want your
friendship or your money, for sooner than
touch cent of it l would starve in the
street You are mistress Of Caledon now.
Oliver Dudley is your devoted slave. May
you be very happy" ~ tt
She paused. / knew not what TO say. Her
wild, impassioned words showed inc the
depth of her passionate, willful nature, and
her bold allusion to Oliver Dudley made my
check crimson, yet my heart swelled with
pity for her. Once more / endeavored TO
comfort her.
'sYou speak wildly, Irma," said. "Mr.
Dudley is nothing to me except a friend"
/ blushed the next instant, though, re-
Wondering that did regard him in diff
ferent light, though that he had aught ex-
eept friendly feeling for mo remained to
be seen.
"And you refuse my offer of friendship,
Miss Barrett,p said, rising She bowed
her head.
"You are wrong, fearfully wrong" ]
cried. "Believe me, Oliver Dudley is only
friend tome"
She raised her eyes, hard and stony, to
mine. Never shall forget their cold, hope
less look 81
''You waste your words, Miss Caledon,"
was all she said, and l walked away, leav-
ing her, rs had found her, sitting idly by
the window, her waxen hands folded in her
lap.
''Ohl the wickedness of this worldln
cried, as went homeward.
"But for her mothers wicked scheme of
defrauding helpless orphan, IrIna would
today have been a happy girl, and we
should have been as dear sisters to-
gether.n rH
II had been at Caledon Heights q year
when Mr.. Dudley, returning from the
North where he had been attending the
settling Of his fathers estate, made me a
formal offer Of his hand and heart.
~ have always loved you, Dorcas," he
said. You arc tho one woman in the world l
would choose for my wife. Without your
love / am miserable, indeed. Surely you
will not send me away, Dorcas. Only give
me the smallest share Of your love and ]
shall be content"
II is needless to record my answer Suf-
fec TO say that 1ir. Dudley did not leave,
and that he confessed the share 1 granted
him of my love proved quite sufficient.
We were married quietly, only tho dear
friends / had known in the years of my adj
versity being present Among these were
BERTHE Clayton, whose congratulations were
us warm and hearty as one would wish.
My honored grandparents, in whose
good graces am happy to sayI at once
found myself, Immediately took up their
residence at the Heights at my earnest solic-
ltation. Also5my dear adopted mother be-
came an inmate Of my home, for / could not
bear TO be separated from her who had
been TO me mother, friend and sister in the
time when friendly hands were rare.
A few words more, and will close. Irma
Barrett over refused stubbornly TO accept
my friendship or my love; she married
wealthy planter in after years, but l fear
was never happy or contented. Irving
proiitcd by the lesson taught him, for there
is to-day no more upright or honest man or
one more respected In the community in
which he lives BERTHE Clayton is talented
young lawyer and loved by all who know
him. Mr.. and Mrs. Clayton are both sleep
ing quioty in Rose Hill Cemetery and have
been for many years. Near their graves is
that Of Agnes Armund; let US hope after
life's fitful fever their sleep is sweet.
So closes this short ard simple story OF
my life. After all the darkc LIQUIDS were
swept away and the sun shone brighter
than ever, there is only one regret, one sor-
row over which can never feel quite rec
nncile1 that ia that nv dear Kind fatharia
dying wish and prayer for one more sight
Of his child could not have been granted
But after all what matters III Win there
not BIO sufficient time in all eternity, when
we shall meet 10 compensate for all the
little trials here.
And so, dear reader, ends the story Of
Dorcas Caledon, the last heiress of Caledon |
Heights.